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legacygirlingreen · 2 months ago

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Peace || Captain Rex x OFC (Mae Killough)

Pairing: Captain Rex X Original Female Character (Mae Killough); mentions @leenabb104104 's AU verse including Aiko x Echo, Tech x Leena, Wrecker x Chori

Word Count: 6.5k

Warnings: mentions of former injury, mentions of former clone death, brief mentions of order 66 (but only if you squint), mentions of unnamed character in labor, brief allusions to abusive childhood -- all that said its mostly VERY sweet/wholesome vibes in the midst of some introspection

Edited: 10/24/24

AN: Hi friends! So some of you may know, but I've been doing some collaborating with my friend @leenabb104104 ! This is a short oneshot for her Pabu AU introducing Mae, the doctor on the island! It can be read independently or separately! Overall it's just a sweet, wholesome meet cute for her and a particular captain whom we all know and love... If you wish to see Mae's intro on her account you can find it HERE and if you'd like to read about her being the MOH during her OFC Aiko and Echo's wedding that is HERE! Anyways, hope you like it. Don't be afraid to comment, and if you prefer the AO3 link that's here...

MASTERLIST || Part 2 || Part 3 (coming soon)

Rex always made a point to avoid eavesdropping on Echo’s conversations with Aiko whenever he could. Although he had introduced the two, he respected their privacy. Still, it was difficult not to overhear snippets of their dialogue while they shared the bridge of the small transport ship.

“We're headed back; it shouldn't be more than a few hours before Rex drops me off,” Echo reassured Aiko as a loud swoosh and bang suddenly broke the ambient sounds of the transmission. Rex glanced over, noticing the pale blue image of Aiko’s face turn toward the source of the commotion on her end.

“What’s wrong?” she asked gently, sensing the tension radiating from her roommate.

“Labor. Can’t leave. Medical supplies—” came the fragmented response.

“She sounds flustered,” Echo remarked with a chuckle, prompting Rex to lean in slightly, intrigued by the plight of Aiko’s friend. Although he had met the Empath before Echo, he had yet to formally meet Mae, the resident doctor on Pabu. In fact, he had made it a point to avoid lingering on the island, always ensuring he dropped Echo off quickly before returning to one of the facilities he had helped establish for the clones they had rescued.

Rex watched as Aiko opened her arms, and the outline of a woman suddenly collapsed into her lap over the blurry imagery. “I need to head back; I just ran home to grab some clothes to change into later,” she groaned, her voice muffled as her mouth pressed into Aiko’s neck.

“What if I knew someone off-world who could pick up the supplies for you? Would that ease some of the stress?” Aiko suggested, her doctor nodding as she reached for the large clip securing her hair at the back of her head.

Rex observed, fascinated, as the blurry image of curls sprang free, almost cartoonishly, the moment they were released. “Depends on how trustworthy this person is,” she replied skeptically, her hands combing through her hair as she swiftly twisted it back into a tidy bun. Despite her back being turned to the transmission, he couldn’t help but be amazed at how long her hair was and how much space it seemed to occupy. He had never given hair much thought before; to him, it was just a nuisance, something to keep short and practical from all his years in combat. Yet now, he found himself wondering what color the doctor’s hair might be in real life.

“Echo can handle it. You can take care of it, right, darlin’?” Aiko prompted, shifting her attention back to the holopad as the woman whipped around abruptly.

The transmission distorted her features, making it hard to discern the exact shape of her nose or the nuances of her complexion beyond her pale skin. Details like the length of her eyelashes or the presence of freckles were lost in the blur. What stood out, however, were her large, expressive eyes, partially hidden behind comically oversized frames. Her lips were pulled into a shocked expression, full and plush, lending her a sharp yet fair appearance.

“Oh! Sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt. I really need to head back anyway—patient in labor!” Mae exclaimed, abruptly standing and moving just out of the recording device's view.

“Mae, slow down—”

“Yes?” She spun around as Aiko pointed at the transmitter, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t you need to tell Echo—”

“The supplies! Right! I’ll have AZI send the coordinates since he usually goes with me to pick them up. Thank you, Echo! Please tell your Captain I’m so sorry for any inconvenience the extra pitstop might cause!” She smiled brightly and dashed off before either of them could respond.

Rex doubted she even caught a proper glimpse of the image on the transmitter. If she had, she might have noticed him barely visible in the corner alongside Echo, and wouldn’t have felt the need to apologize to him. Hearing that concern sparked a light fluttering sensation in his stomach, creeping up his sternum and settling along his neck. It made Rex wonder how much Mae actually knew about him. After all, she had invited Aiko into her home, and she must be familiar with Echo’s frequent departures to assist him and the other clones. That implied she had some awareness of their situation. Yet here he was, knowing little about her aside from the fact that the empath lived with and befriended this intriguing woman.

Silence settled in the wake of the doctor's hasty departure. Eventually, Rex cleared his throat, the lack of conversation throughout the flight leaving it feeling coarse. He meant to ask Echo something, but instead, he found himself asking, “Is she, uh, always like that?”

In unison, Echo and Rex confirmed that yes, the resident doctor was indeed chaotic most of the time. Rex gave a light nod before turning back to the distance transmitter, knowing information about the drop would come soon. He opted to tune out the rest of their conversation, allowing a moment of privacy for the couple.

He couldn’t quite understand why the sight of the frazzled woman with oversized glasses, rivaling Tech’s goggles in diameter, was so perplexing. Perhaps it was his mental image of a doctor who would open her home to Aiko—a figure he’d expected to be more mature, perhaps even older. Instead, here was someone who looked close to his own age. Was it the loneliness he had tried to bury, but which now resurfaced more frequently since Echo’s transmission?

He couldn’t deny that the longing had always lingered, perhaps embedded in his very DNA from Jango. It was a desire that felt intrinsic, something the longnecks seemed unable to resolve. It might have been ignited by his injury on Saleucami, the encounters with Cut and Suu and their children. Rex often reassured himself that he didn’t need what they had, nor what the 99 boys had discovered on the island. He had his brothers and a mission, and that should have been enough… right? Yet he couldn’t shake the realization that it had been a long time since he’d genuinely spent time with a woman.

Recently, the only women Rex encountered were those already involved with his brothers, contacts for assignments, or friends like the Martell sisters and Senator Chuci. All of them felt unattainable, and none turned his head quite the same way.

“You sure it’s not a bother to make an additional pit stop?” Echo asked, pulling Rex from his thoughts. He turned to see that Aiko had ended the transmission.

“No, not at all?” Rex replied, his tone more of a question than a statement, prompting Echo to raise an eyebrow and hum in response. Rex noticed how Echo subtly observed him, taking in the way he straightened his posture and adjusted his collar, then fixed his gaze on the hyperspace lane ahead as if it had suddenly become the most captivating sight in the galaxy.

“Remind me again, what are your plans while I’m back on Pabu for a few days?” Echo inquired.

“Waiting to hear back from my contact about that prison in the Outer Rim, catching up on manuals, keeping the others in line. The usual,” Rex shrugged. He often felt that spending time on Pabu was an imposition on the relaxed life Clone Force 99 had built for themselves, with each of the boys finding their own personal distractions. Given the nature of his work and the responsibilities he felt toward his brothers still trapped under the Empire’s thumb, those distractions felt like a risk. It was why he had erected a mental barrier around such relationships.

“You know, you’re always welcome to spend your downtime on Pabu—”

“No, no, that’s your home,” Rex interrupted.

“You need to recharge sometime,” Echo insisted.

“I can recharge at our satellite facility,” Rex countered.

“By the time you get there and back, it’ll be a waste of fuel.”

“Still, I don’t want to impose—”

“Rex, we go way back,” Echo said with a sigh, his new hand attachment gripping his brows as he massaged his temples, searching for the right words.

“Pabu is your home, Echo. I don’t mind making an extra pit stop to help someone who does so much for the community where you boys hang up your armor, but that doesn’t mean I need to stay and see it through.” Deep down, Rex understood that lingering and getting close to a pretty doctor wasn’t wise. If she was as busy as Echo often described, she likely felt the same way. As stunning as she was, she probably had her pick of the clones residing there. What if she was already involved with someone?

“Are you even listening to me?” Echo huffed.

Rex knew there was no point in lying, so he simply shook his head.

“One or two days won’t kill you. Besides, we both know the chances of anyone getting us solid information on that prison are slim to none. It’s a waste of fuel. Plus, the others keep pestering me about how you’re doing, especially Aiko. I think she’s worried about you,” Echo said with a playful smirk.

“Why on earth would she be worried about me?” Rex quirked a dark eyebrow, feeling the tension ease as the conversation took on a more lighthearted tone.

“She’s concerned that you’re lonely and overworking yourself. And just in case you’ve forgotten, I can’t lie to her,” Echo reminded him.

“You really had to fall for an empath,” Rex replied, shaking his head. He knew fuel was expensive, and leaving on principle wasn’t exactly a rational decision. Still, he felt himself being swayed; a few days to rest and step away from his worries would be good for his health. He had been waking up exhausted every day, and the moment he slid back onto his bunk, that fatigue wrapped around him like a heavy blanket. Time was wearing him down in ways he didn’t want to acknowledge, from the crick in his back to the persistent tightness in his neck and shoulders.

“Hey now, need I remind you that you’re the one who introduced that empath to me?” Echo interjected, pulling Rex from his thoughts. A slight beep indicated coordinates had been set, and Rex glanced down to see they were already on their way, with minimal delay to their anticipated arrival.

“Fine, it’s my fault. I accept full responsibility. Two days as punishment. That’s all you get.” Rex threw up his palms in mock surrender, while Echo simply rolled his eyes. Sarcasm—something he could definitely blame on the Jedi for teaching him. The thought twisted in his stomach for a moment as he realized that General Skywalker was likely gone, like the others. Just thinking about it made him feel nauseous, but he quickly pushed the thought aside.

“Some sun might do you good, brother. Got the coordinates?”

With a nod, Rex set the navigation system, and they were off for a quick pickup. In his mind, he could justify the stop; after all, it was to help a woman who dedicated herself to serving others—a sentiment he understood all too well.

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In a galaxy rife with war, disease, famine, and every imaginable atrocity, being a doctor meant confronting countless unpleasant sights, sounds, and sometimes even smells. So when the rare opportunity to bring new life into the universe arose, Mae found it to be a beautiful kind of labor—a brief moment of light and hope that reaffirmed her decision to leave home and carve out a path in this challenging role.

Running away from home at such a young and vulnerable age to escape the organized crime that plagued her past was no easy feat. Funding her education amid the rising tensions across the galaxy meant taking a transport ship to the heart of the Republic and joining a civilian-based program dedicated to providing aid relief. Through various deployments dealing with natural disasters and minor conflicts, she gained valuable medical training. However, when war broke out and her deployments shifted to accompany clone troopers into combat, the nature of her work turned grim.

Many of her friends and colleagues, who had enlisted during a time of peace, chose to forgo their duties in the face of an intergalactic civil war. This left Mae as one of the few willing to enter dangerous situations to assist the unfortunate souls whose homeworlds were under attack. It also afforded her a level of seniority, as she became one of the longest-serving members of her organization.

That seniority ultimately led her to Ryloth, a battleground marked by one of the war’s most brutal conflicts and the regrettable reason why the Senate-funded relief organization was disbanded. The staggering civilian casualties in combat did not bode well for the politicians. Nor did it reflect positively on the Jedi, who had sent her off-world following a surprise attack that rattled their camp. After months of deployment in Ryloth's canyons alongside clones and rebels, Mae boarded the last shuttle off-world after things took a turn for the worse—a bullet wound to her chest.

Looking back, Mae carried the weight of guilt for being one of the last to see Master Di and his brave clone commander alive. The news of their tragic fate, yet remarkably valiant stand against the droid army, was what accompanied the discharge notice she received the moment she woke up after surgery aboard the Jedi Cruiser.

With nowhere to go upon her arrival at the Republic Capital—barely recovered from her ordeal—she drifted through the galaxy until fate brought her to the tranquil island of Pabu. As the sole doctor there, she finally found the peaceful life she had longed for since childhood, growing up among violent criminals.

The war had never reached Pabu, not until the deserters from Clone Force 99 arrived, seeking solitude just as she had. Even then, it wasn’t their fault that the newly formed Empire was after their familial unit. Once the situation was resolved—by means she never fully questioned—life returned to normal.

A steady stream of clones came through her clinic, rescued from captivity, seeking her help for their aching bodies and lingering injuries from the war. She aided in their recovery, sending them off to new lives. Yet, throughout it all, she never had the opportunity to meet the clone responsible for their rescue, at least not the one orchestrating it.

Aiko had arrived on the island with Echo after nearly a year of the Bad Batch settling in with the locals. Mae had only spoken to Echo a few times, as he was rarely around, often lost among the stars with his former captain. But as her friendship with the kind empath he called “love” deepened, it was only a matter of time before she got to know him better through her connection to Aiko.

They shared stories of their journeys during the war, Mae offering brief glimpses of her own temporary involvement before finding solace in her role as a caregiver. All of this unfolded over evening drinks, yet still, the elusive Captain did not make an appearance. Not that it truly mattered—he was a busy man, after all. From what Echo had shared, he was one of the kindest and bravest people he knew. Still, it would be nice to meet the man responsible for continually dropping new patients at her door.

After finally delivering a child following a grueling forty-three hours of labor, Mae returned to her office, ready to clean up and seek some much-needed rest. Yet, a gnawing feeling crept in—she hated the thought of inconveniencing Echo and his Captain. She would likely never be able to thank him properly, beyond expressing her gratitude indirectly through Echo. Knowing the importance of the work they did only amplified her guilt.

Fortunately, the clinic was close to the shared home she had with Aiko. If she hadn’t been so utterly exhausted, Mae might have recognized the sound of laughter before even reaching the door. Slipping inside, she tossed her glasses onto the table next to the entrance and quietly removed her shoes. The murmurs from the kitchen faded momentarily at her arrival.

“Mae, when was the last time you slept, hon?” Aiko's soft voice called from the kitchen, her gasp filled with concern. Not glancing in that direction, Mae probed at her temple with clammy fingers, finally releasing the clip from her hair and relishing the sensation of her locks flowing free once more. The tight bun had left her with a tension headache, and Aiko didn’t need to ask who had arrived; she could feel Mae's exhaustion rolling off her in waves.

“Fifty-four hours, I believe. Unless you count a lothcat nap in my office between contractions, then it’s twenty-one,” Mae replied, rounding the wall into the kitchen, her fingers shaking loose the remnants of her bun as she realized she had an audience.

“She’s alive after all... You can cancel the search party,” Crosshair smirked, leaning against the counter as he teasingly nudged Mae into the center of their small circle, a toothpick perched between his lips.

“Crosshair is merely attempting humor; there was no actual search party,” Tech interjected, adjusting his glasses. “However, I would recommend some rest, as staying awake for extended periods is unhealthy—”

Mae shook her head at him. “Thank you for the medical advice, Tech. I plan to do just that. I wasn’t aware we were hosting tonight,” she said quietly to Aiko, who looked up sheepishly.

“Something came up that I hadn’t anticipated, so the others decided to gather here. But we’ll keep the noise down if you need to sleep,” Aiko offered, realizing that disrupting her already overworked housemate might not have been the best idea. She silenced that thought when Mae shook her head again.

“It’s fine, really. What’s a few more hours, anyway?” Mae paused before turning toward Tech, cutting off his impending lecture. “Unhealthy, I know. But I promise I’ll be okay. I just can’t guarantee I’ll be my usual lively self.” She yawned, prompting Crosshair to mutter something along the lines of “thank the maker,” only to be playfully slapped on the shoulder by Kay, Leena’s twin sister. The pair launched into a lighthearted banter as Mae walked over to Aiko and Echo.

Surveying the room, she noted that most of their group was present, with only Hunter and Omega missing. Perhaps it was a bit late for the girl. Wrecker and Chori had left Pabu to visit her family, leaving her pup, Muffin, under Leena’s proud care as she chatted with the others. Tech maintained a safe distance from Muffin, referring to the mischievous creature as “a missing finger waiting to happen,” all while holding onto his wife protectively.

“Do I have time to clean up before this... something that came up, or—” Mae began, only to be interrupted by the door slamming open and Hunter’s shout for Omega to slow down.

“Come on, you have to meet Mae too!” the girl’s voice rang out as everyone turned to see a blur of movement, Omega enthusiastically pulling a man through the living room. At the sound of her name, Mae turned, only to find her cheek pressed against a firm chest—plastoid armor, no less. As one might imagine, that wasn’t the most pleasant contact after hours of delivering a baby.

“Oops—” Omega exclaimed, attempting to back away from the collision she had inadvertently caused by misjudging the distance.

“Oh wow—”

“Are you alright—” Mae and the former Captain spoke in unison. In the background, Hunter's reprimand of Omega faded away as Mae and the stranger locked eyes. She pressed her hand to her cheek, feeling the dull throb beneath it, then slowly lowered it as she craned her neck to take in his features.

He was tall, with a face reminiscent of the other clones, yet distinctly different. Mae was accustomed to the standard clone features, but his eyes seemed somehow brighter. The crow's feet at the corners of his eyes were slightly deeper, and his light blond hair was cut very short, forming a halo that contrasted strikingly with his tanned skin.

If anyone had asked, she would have attributed her lingering gaze to a lack of sleep. Yet, staring at the poor man hadn’t been her intent. Mae was all too familiar with the remarkable genetics of Jango Fett, which were indeed impressive, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint why he seemed so much more handsome than the others.

Rex finally had the chance to see the doctor in person, rather than through the grainy image of their ship's transmitter. Her hair was a striking shade of red—not the unnatural hues he often encountered on women planetside or even among his brothers, but a warm, natural tint. Despite her pale complexion, her cheeks held a lovely pink hue. The details that had been lost in the poor transmission blended seamlessly in real life, and he was hit with the realization that she was even more beautiful than he had imagined.

“That looks like it’s going to leave a mark,” Echo joked, drawing their attention as he stood nearby with Aiko. Rex glanced down, and sure enough, a small bruise was already forming just above her cheekbone. “Kriff, I’m so sorry,” he said, his honey-colored eyes meeting hers, noting the unreadable expression in her pale gaze.

“It’s definitely not the worst blow I’ve ever taken. No need to apologize, soldier,” she replied, trying to laugh it off. She looked at Aiko and Echo, clearly expecting an introduction. Assuming he was just another rescued soldier passing through, she was surprised when Echo placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder and turned to her with an explanation.

“Mae, this is my old captain from my 501st days. Rex, this is Mae—” As Echo introduced them, Mae felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Not only had she just collided with a man’s chest, but this man was Echo’s close friend—the one who worked tirelessly to rescue clones, who had saved Echo’s life from the Separatists, and the very person she had inconvenienced earlier that day.

“Pleasure to finally meet you, ma’am,” Rex said, extending his hand. She froze, staring at his outstretched fingers, encased in black gloves. A gentle nudge from Aiko prompted her to respond, and she offered her own hand, which was quickly engulfed in his firm grip.

“You as well. Thank you again for making a pit stop on the way here. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble—” she began, only to have him slip his hand from hers with a chuckle.

“Not at all. Happy to help,” he replied with a polite nod.

“We were thinking of heading to the square for some drinks, if you’re up for it,” Aiko offered. Mae considered it for a moment; as appealing as that sounded, the idea of finally washing up felt even more inviting.

“I might go clean up. I can’t imagine I look fantastic right now. If I’m still standing by some miracle, I can meet you all there,” she suggested, glancing at Rex to gauge his reaction. If she didn’t know any better, he almost seemed disappointed.

“I might do the same back on the ship,” Rex said, only to have Echo shake his head.

“You can use ours. No need to trek all the way down the island for a fresher,” Echo pointed toward Aiko’s room, which had a separate shower stall. He hadn’t had a chance to use it, as Hunter and Omega had dragged him around the island to catch up with everyone else.

“Alright, I guess we’ll both join you in a bit,” Rex said, glancing between Aiko and Echo before turning back to Mae. In the background, the group was gradually settling down, with Omega calling out a cheerful apology after Hunter's grumbled reprimand. Soon, the room filled with laughter and chatter grew silent, leaving Rex and Mae in a quiet, uncertain bubble. The sound of the front door sliding shut prompted them both to speak at once.

“Do you—”

“I am real—”

They both blinked, wide-eyed, momentarily unsure who would continue. Taking a breath, Mae let out a light laugh. “You first.”

Rex shook his head. “No, I insist,” he said, gesturing for her to go ahead, as if his encouragement could coax the words from her.

“I was just going to ask if you needed anything. I was planning to grab some towels from the linen closet, but I wasn’t sure if you needed anything else. We keep quite a bit of spare clothing here since Echo brings troopers through my home,” she explained, stepping toward a slight alcove in the wall. She swung the door open and stepped aside for him to take a look inside.

Rex peered into the small supply closet, surprised by its contents. It wasn’t anything fancy—just spare clothes, toiletries, and assorted items—but the knowledge that these were all set aside for his brothers filled him with warmth. It was comforting to know this kind doctor was caring for them as they transitioned to new lives.

“Oh, that’s uh—” he started, feeling a flush of warmth rise to his cheeks as he took in the sight.

“Take your time. I’ll grab a towel,” Mae said with a slight nod before quietly stepping down the hall. Rex couldn’t help but admire the ease with which she moved through her space. There was a natural grace to her, a combination of swaying hips and light footfalls that lingered in his mind long after she disappeared from view.

Shaking his head, Rex grabbed a bar of soap and a change of clothes while he waited for Mae to return. He figured it was best to leave more supplies for others. When she came back, she wore a warm smile and handed him a simple white towel, pointing him toward Echo and Aiko’s shared room. He hadn’t meant to zone out as she explained how to use the refresher, but the exhaustion in her voice sparked a hint of concern.

“Holler if you need anything, hon,” Mae said, turning to head back to what he assumed was her own space.

Trudging toward the room, he closed the door behind him and began to shed the armor he’d worn for years. With practiced ease, he undid the latches and set the pieces on the floor, then reached for the top of his black body glove, wincing slightly as he pulled it off over his head.

For a moment, panic set in as he tried to remember how to turn on the water. After a few moments of fumbling, he finally figured it out. The cool air brushed against his bare skin, raising goosebumps, but once the warm water cascaded over him, it felt like pure bliss. Rex couldn’t remember the last time he’d had hot water; lukewarm had become his new normal. The soothing stream worked wonders on his aching joints and tense shoulders, washing away the fatigue as he let out a contented sigh.

Still, he felt a twinge of guilt for indulging in such a luxury. The relief quickly turned into a sense of urgency—how fast could he wrap this up? Before long, he was drying off and getting dressed. That’s when he noticed an unfamiliar sensation. It had been ages since he’d worn civilian clothing, especially anything not designed for protection. Sliding a simple cotton shirt over his body felt oddly liberating, yet strangely foreign.

Returning to the living space, Rex felt a sense of relief without the weight of his armor. The room was empty, but he could hear the water running in the other room, accompanied by Mae's occasional hum echoing through the walls. He hesitated, unsure whether to wait for her or assume she had collapsed into bed. Given the exhausting work of delivering a baby, he wouldn’t blame her at all.

As he padded around the space, he took in the various artifacts that filled it. Houseplants thrived in corners, and paintings adorned the walls—likely created by a local artist. He noticed elements of Echo’s minimal presence among the decor: a few meager belongings from his time as an ARC Trooper, alongside mementos from Aiko’s homeworld. But what caught his eye was a worn white and maroon shoulder pad on a small shelf.

Drawing closer, he recognized the markings. It belonged to the 303rd, who had been stationed on Ryloth during the blockade, following the initial forces' tragic fate. Rex recalled Howser’s vague references to the legion that had come before them, and he felt a familiar pang of sorrow for the 303 and their Jedi leader.

Next to the shoulder pad lay a small photo frame. Curiosity piqued, he tapped the on button and was surprised to see Mae's smiling face among a group of troopers, wearing the standard uniform of the Republic Aid Relief. Though she looked a bit worn and underfed, her beauty shone through.

It had been so long since he’d crossed paths with any of them, particularly after the Senate disbanded the organization early in the war. He recalled Wolffe’s complaints about taking over their responsibilities after a natural disaster on a planet occupied by strange alien reptiles. If his memory served him, it was Ryloth’s failed first invasion that had led to the dissolution of the RAR contracts. Realization dawned on him—if the 303 had originally been assigned to Ryloth, that would mean...

“I like to think it’s important to remember those who have fallen, even if the war is over,” came Mae's soft voice from behind him. Startled, Rex dropped the photo display, guilt flooding through him for having been caught snooping.

“I shouldn’t have—” he began to apologize, but paused at the wave of her hand.

“If I wanted it to remain private, I would have kept it in my quarters or tucked it away somewhere. I don’t treat my past like a well-guarded secret,” Mae replied, bending down to retrieve the tablet and placing it back on the shelf, allowing the image of her among the clones and Twi’lek rebels to be visible once more.

“You were in the RAR,” he stated, more as an observation than a question, his gaze drifting back to her features. Her hair was still damp from the shower, and the mark on her cheek had deepened into a bruise. She looked utterly worn out after the exhausting days she’d faced, yet there was a spark in her eyes that seemed almost out of place for someone who had weathered one of the harshest battles of the Clone Wars.

“I was,” she replied simply, finally tearing her gaze from the memorial to meet his. He, too, looked fatigued.

“I had no idea,” he said, his voice quiet. In truth, there was no reason for him to know about her past. They weren’t friends; they had merely crossed paths. Their connection was tenuous, built on mutual acquaintances. He felt no entitlement to the personal history of a doctor he barely knew. Yet the knowledge that she had chosen to be in the thick of it all spoke volumes. It revealed an unexpected courage and strength he wouldn’t have associated with someone so small and seemingly unassuming.

“I would’ve stayed too, but the moment I woke up from surgery, they handed me discharge papers and said we were no longer needed,” she said, her tone laced with a hint of guilt.

“Surgery?” he asked, aware that Ryloth lacked the sterile environments necessary for such intensive care.

“I got the last shuttle off-world before the blockade went up. It was a surprise attack, and I took a shot to the chest,” Mae explained, her fingers gently pulling down the simple shirt she wore to reveal a pale scar at the top of the valley between her breasts. The sudden flash of skin caught him off guard, and he quickly averted his gaze, a blush creeping across his tanned cheeks. He instinctively rubbed the back of his neck, stealing a moment as she adjusted her shirt back into place.

“Want to know the worst part?” she said, her tone tinged with sadness as his golden eyes returned to her face, curiosity evident. “They just threw us into that situation. We made the best of it, but in the early days, we had no choice. When enough people complained about enlisting during peace, they eventually allowed anyone who wanted out to leave. Yet only a handful of us stayed to see it through. When things got bad, they tossed us aside, saying we weren’t needed anymore. I would’ve stayed. I wanted to stay. I—” She paused, noticing the shock in his expression at her sudden outburst. “I’m sorry. It was so long ago; being angry about it now doesn’t help.”

“No, I understand. More than most would, actually,” he reassured her, though he knew doing so would require confronting the memories he kept locked away— the sorrow of lost brothers, the guilt of surviving, the nagging feeling that he wasn’t doing enough.

“Survivor’s guilt is a relentless burden. As a doctor, I see how debilitating it can be. Almost every trooper who comes through my clinic struggles with it, and I feel like a hypocrite telling them to channel that pain into something productive when I carry my own,” she said, turning away to sit on the sofa. Exhaustion washed over her, and she clasped her hands in her lap, avoiding eye contact.

Rex felt a surge of responsibility—not for the root of her pain, but for bringing it back to the surface. He approached her cautiously, lowering himself to one knee in front of the sofa, careful not to startle her or invade her space. He had experience helping soldiers through shell shock, piecing them back together after battles. But he wasn’t sure how to navigate the vulnerabilities of a civilian, especially when he himself kept his walls up, just as she seemed to. So, he chose a different approach.

“Thank you,” he said simply, placing his hand over hers for a reassuring squeeze.

Expecting yet another one of those clichéd phrases—“You did all you could” or “You aren’t alone”—her eyes widened in surprise. “For what?” she asked, almost timidly.

“For putting up with all of us. I can’t speak for everyone, but to be cared for by someone who doesn’t have to be kind, who doesn’t have to be gentle, and who actually sees us as individuals means a lot. All I ever wanted was for my brothers to find their freedom and live the lives they dreamed of. I didn’t realize how much Echo was allowing our burden to fall on you,” he explained.

“It’s not really a burden, per se,” she replied, and he let out a reassuring chuckle.

“I know my brothers better than anyone. Trust me, it’s a challenge to keep them in line,” Rex said, grinning as he watched her snicker.

“Then might I inquire…” She leaned in conspiratorially, as if about to share a deep secret. Rex tilted his head to the side, inviting her to whisper. “Does that mean the stubbornness is genetically wired into you all, or is it taught?”

As Rex pulled back, he couldn’t help but notice the grin on her lips and the mischief dancing in her wide eyes. Up close, they looked more blue than the grayish hue he’d perceived from a distance. The recognition of her eye color didn’t diminish the warmth spreading in his chest from her joke—or from the way she was looking at him.

He couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh at her jest as he rose from the floor to take a seat on the couch beside her. Though he knew the others were likely waiting for him, he wasn’t quite ready to leave, especially since she seemed to be running out of energy. Leaning back, he rested his head against the sofa and sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.

Silence often made him uneasy; it usually heralded enemy strikes, the calm before the storm. Yet, he found the comfortable stillness in the room surprising but welcome. It was a relief to just exist for a moment, free from the burden of what came next.

He felt a shift beside him and opened his eyes to see Mae had mirrored his position, her head just inches from his. Her eyes were closed, and soft breaths escaped her lips, the tension in her brow finally easing after their earlier conversation. In that moment, he realized that connection didn’t always require words. Sometimes, you met people who simply understood the unexplainable parts of you. It was a beautiful revelation, and with that thought, he closed his eyes once more, surrendering to the tranquil stillness of Pabu.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

“I highly doubt Rex would slip away without saying goodbye, especially since he agreed to stay a few days, Love,” Aiko remarked as she and Echo walked back toward the house. It hadn’t taken long for the others to notice that Rex and Mae were missing, prompting the pair to seek out the absent soldier and doctor.

“I’d like to agree, but Rex can be... quite driven by his sense of duty, often to the point of overlooking simple courtesies,” Echo replied as they stepped onto the front porch. He opened the door to find the lights dimmed but not completely off, just as they had left them. His gaze quickly landed on the illuminated screen of Mae’s Ryloth memorial, and Aiko gasped, pointing toward the sofa. When Echo followed her finger, he couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle.

There, side by side and fast asleep, were Rex and Mae. Rex leaned against the back of the couch, his legs stretched out before him, soft snores escaping his lips—clearly, Echo and Aiko’s entrance hadn’t disturbed him. Mae had slumped over, her head resting on Rex’s shoulder, blissfully unaware of her position or the fact that they now had an audience.

“Well, that’s... unexpected,” Echo murmured, gesturing to the door. Aiko followed him, stealing one last glance at the sleeping pair, her smile conveying everything that needed to be said. If there was one thing the empath understood, it was that finding peace amid chaos was truly a blessing.

Part 2 HERE

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